3.1.1.2 The structure and role of Parliament - S

Question 1

what is devolution

Answer 1

transfer of policy-makingpowes powers from the centre to subordinate, subnational institutions

Question 2

powers of the Scottish devolved body

Answer 2

• most powerful (parliament)
• primary leg powers
• devolved laws and tax powers

Question 3

powers of the Welsh assembly

Answer 3

• 2011 ref: primary leg on devolved matters
• 2017: tax raising powers

Question 4

powers of the NI assembly

Answer 4

• has primary leg powers
• limited tax powers

Question 5

scottish and welsh political power of at the time

Answer 5

• 1970s saw the growth of S and W nationalism
• plaid cymru and SNP made breakthrough gaining rep at Westminister

Question 6

why did devolution not emerge during the 1970s

Answer 6

• there was a call for it due to disconnect with the UK political party
• 20% backed a Welsh assembly in 1979 Welsh referendum
• Scotland: 52% supported devolution but only 33% of the electorate, with 40% needed

Question 7

why did devolution progress change after 1997

Answer 7

• after long periods of conservative government
• labour, LD, and key groups in scottish civil society supported devolution
• 1997: Blair held another W and S ref soon after 97 election –> 74% of scots wanted a S parl, and 64% wanted tax varying powers
• 50.3% voted yes to a W assemebly (50.1 turnout)
• devolution support far greater in S than W

Question 8

what did the 1998 scotland act do

Answer 8

• Gave scotland primary leg authority over health, environment, education, economic development etc
• tax varying powers –> income tax variance by 3%

Question 9

scotland act 2012

Answer 9

• can set the rate of income tax higher or lower than the rest of the UK from 2016 onwards

Question 10

scotland act 2016

Answer 10

• can control income tax rates, keep 50% of VAT raised –> fiscal autonomy
• gave Scottish parliament control of 15 billion pounds

Question 11

what are 3 main parts of the scottish parl

Answer 11

1. members
2. electoral system
3. leaders

Question 12

members and Sparl

Answer 12

• 129 MSPs elected by AMS

constituency members:
- 57% of total MSPs
- 73 MSPs elected by single members constituencies using FPTP

additional members:
- 56 MSPs, 43%
- voted using AMS (vote for individuals and a vote for parties)
- choose from party lists, 7 reps for 8 multi member regions

Question 13

electoral system as Sparl

significance of PR

Answer 13

• FPTP to elect MSPs to constituencies
• AMS used for assembly elections
• additional members elected via PR (regional system) –> elected to parties on a corrective basis so seat distribution reflects the share of the vote

Question 14

how often are elections held in Scotland

Answer 14

initially held every 4 years but extended to 5 after 2011 election (to make WM)

Question 15

leaders of Sparl

Answer 15

• FIRST MINISTER - leader of the largest part
• labour coalition with LD from 1999-2007, but now SNP is governing party
• Nicola Sturgeon (2014) replaced alex salmond
• heads gov and appoints cabinet

Question 16

what did people in favour of scottish independence argue

Answer 16

• people of Scotland were better placed to make decisions that affect Scotland
• highlighted economic and social policies that an SNP government would pursue

Question 17

what was the SNPs vision

what reserved powers did they want

Answer 17

• independent scotland part of a ‘personal union’ within the UK
• retains the queen as the head of state and keeps the pound in a currency union in the UK
• scotland would have its own written constitution and full responsibility for welfare, foreign and defence policy

Question 18

what were pro scottish unionist campaigns ?

why should scotland be satisfied with the devolution deal it has

Answer 18

• ‘better together’, from Labour, LD and Conservatives
• Scotland enjoyed extensive devolution as well as the economic political and cultural benefit of the union
• independence: damage scottish economy (treasury insisted no currency union)
• european commission warned that scotland would not become an EU member

Question 19

results of the scottish independence

where were the supporters concentrated

Answer 19

18th sep 2014
- 55.3% ‘no’ vote
- 1.6 million voters (44.7%) supported independence (working class, deprived, under 55) . majority yes vote in:
1) glasgow
2) dundee
3) Dunbartonshire
4) north Lanarkshire

84.5% turnout

Question 20

Scotland act 2016

why does scotland have the most devolved power in the UK

Answer 20

FISCAL POWERS
- - increases in taxes and duties
- control over income tax
- 50% of VAT
- control over the scottish franchise for parliament
- scotland has greater powers than subnational governments in many European states

Question 21

why were the SNP dissatisfied with SA16

Answer 21

• not far enough for the SNP, falls short of ‘devomax’ –> SParl responsibility on fiscal (spending) powers, taxes and duties

Question 22

how did the 2014 S ref influence brexit

Answer 22

• David cameron: saw ref as a win, pushed him for brexit, but lost
• scotland was mainly remain, but was taken out of the eu as part of the Uk
• increased support for independence